Combined luminaire and air-flow means



March 16, 1965 w. L. LIPSCOMB COMBINED LUMINAIRE AND AIR-FLOW MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1961 INVENTOR. WILLIS L. Ll PSCOMB March 1955 w. LIPSCOMB COMBINED LUMINAIRE AND AIR-FLOW MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1961 INVENTOR.

WILLIS L. LIPSCOMB Fig. 6

United States Patent 3,173 616 COMBINED LUMINAIRE AND AIR-FLOW MEANS Willis L. Lipscomb, 2208 Willow, San Diego, Calif. Filed Oct. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 145,256 2 Claims. (Cl. 2409) This invention relates to a lighting fixture, and more particularly to a lighting fixture that incorporates into its structure, properly oriented surfaces and passages for directing the movement of air.

BACKGROUND The ceilings of many modern ofiices, waiting rooms, stores, restaurants, and the like are currently cluttered up by luminaires, air conditioning outlets, heated air outlets, used-air intakes, openings for loud speakers, and the like. This multiplicity of units not only produces an unattractive appearance, but increases the cost of building and servicing the equipment associated with all these separate openings.

OBJECTS AND DRAWINGS It is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide an improved ceiling-mounted structural element.

It is another object of my invention to provide a novel structure that combines the functions of a luminaire and air flow passageways.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a combined luminaire and air flow means that can direct air at a desired angle.

The attainment of these objects and others will be realized from the following specification, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cut-away bottom view of my luminaire;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a further embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of another embodiment of my invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View of still another embodiment of my invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Broadly stated, my invention contemplates a ceiling structure that directs most of the light downward, and causes air to be brought into or exhausted from the room in a controlled direction.

If desired, the air movement may be in a direction axial of the principal louver, which direction will ordinarily be vertical, or may be given a sidewise component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIGURES l and 2, a viewer looking upwards at my combined luminaire and air flow structure 10 would see a bottom portion 12 that is of the opencell eggcrate type. The purpose of eggcrate portion 12 is to direct light downward, but to prevent a viewer from the side from seeing the bright fluorescent lamp 14. Egg crate portion 12 will ordinarily be constructed of cellular material comprised of walls in two sets 16 and 18, the walls of each set being in spaced parallel relation and the two sets being disposed normal to each other and in the same general plane. The walls may be discrete, or the entire eggcrate bottom may be an integral unit that has been molded, bonded together, or formed from interlock ing slats.

A lamp-supporting and socket assembly 20 positions the lamps 14, and includes wiring, ballast units and the like in the well known manner. The assembly 20 includes and is supported by a plate 23 which is provided with air ducts 22 and these air ducts may be connected to an air heater, an air cooler, an air humidity control system, an exhaust fan, or to any other similar device. The proximal ends of air ducts 22 are shown to be delivering air to my structure, although they can just as easily be withdrawing air. While FIGURE 1 indicates the use of six rectangular air ducts, any desired number, of any suitable shape may be used.

An air bafile 24 is positioned adjacent the end of air duct 22, and causes the air to flow through the sidewalls 26 of my structure. As best shown in FIGURE 2 sidewalls 26 comprise passageways that direct the air at the desired angle. Side walls 26 may comprise slats that are suitably positioned and supported but will ordinarily be eggcrate structure wherein the longitudinal slats are angled while the transverse slats are vertical. Side walls 26 and baffle 24 constitute the air flow portion of the combined luminaire and air flow structure. The vertical baffle 25 has a function similar to the above described bafile 24 in separating the lighting fixture portion per se from the air duct portion per se, and these baflies constitute thermal barriers aiding in insulating the lighting fixture portion.

Structure 10 which includes bottom portion 12, air baffle 24 and side walls 26 may be mounted on the ceiling or acoustical mats 28 by means of devices such as channel brackets 30 and 32; or alternatively the structure 10 may be mounted so that its bottom portion 12 is flush with the ceiling 28.

It is an important feature of my invention that air bafiles 24 be transparent or translucent, so that exposed parts of the air duct portions such as the sidewalls 24 and 34 do not appear too dark. These light-transmitting air bafiies would also allow lateral distribution of diffused light while assisting in providing adequate light shielding, and it is also noteworthy that the ceiling 28 adjacent to the installation is also adequately lighted to prevent development of dark spots.

The embodiment of my invention shown in FIGURE 2 is one wherein the air movement has a horizontal component as well as vertical. At times it is desirable to minimize the sideward movement of the air, and the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGURE 3 may be used for this purpose.

As shown, it is substantially the same as the previous embodiment, except that the passageways of sidewall 34 are positioned at such an angle that the cells thereof are vertical.

It will be noted that in FIGURE 2 the passageways are disposed at approximately 45 degrees to the vertical, although this can be varied. The same sidewalls may be used in the embodiment of FIGURE 3, by positioning the sidewall at such an angle that the passageways are vertical. Alternatively, a sidewall with passageways at a different angle may be used.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 3, the slats of sidewall 34 may be light conducting, whereupon lamp 14 will illuminate the ceiling to a controlled extent. Alternatively, the slats of sidewall 34 may be opaque.

In FIGURE 4, I show an embodiment of my invention that may be mounted in any suitable manner with its bottom portion 12 flush with ceiling 28. The lamp 14, lamp supports 20, air ducts 22 and baffles 24 are substantially as previously described. Sidewalls 36 serve the same function as before, but may take a somewhat different form due to the fact that they are positioned above the ceiling.

As shown, air from ducts 22 traverses the sidewalls 36, and is directed into the room by the slats of the sidewall. FIGURE 4 illustrates a slat orientation that gives the air a sidewise and a vertical component.

FIGURE 5 illustrates another flush-mounted embodiment of my invention particularly adapted to direct light through the, sidewall ,38. To achieve this result, bafile 24 is transparent or translucent, and wall 40 of sidewall 38 is constructed of or coated .with a reflective material. Thus, light from" the lamp 14 follows the pathvindicated by arrows 42 and 44 and is'directed'into the room. Another very important embodiment of my invention isillustrated in FIGURE 6 wherein the air duct 46, preferably with a plenum 48 is centrally located in a unitary eral shape, and has certain advantages including economi- This general configuration is adaptcal construction, while retaining all the above mentioned I eneficial features. 7 The bafiie 58 may be chosen to pro- .vide adequate heat shielding while also providing the desired light transmission inwardly to prevent a dark spot at the grid 60 at the mouth of theplenum,48i

It should be noted that in all the illustrated embodimerits, the-upper plate 23 iscontinued as a unitary supporting structure for both the air duct portion aswell as the lighting fixture portion. p

The amount of light entering the room'through side- ;walls 38 may be controlled'by the transmissionvand reflective characteristics of bafiie 24 and, wall 40; in this way establishing whether sidewalls 38 are bright ordim.

ADVANTAGES It will" be understood that my novel ceiling element has several advantages over prior-art structures. It consolidates the air flow and light fixtures 'into a single unit,

thus permitting the architect to produce a cleanerappearin'g, uncluttered ceiling. The 'air flow maybe into or out of'the room, and may provide 'warm or cool air,

m may exhaust stale air. The continuous movement of 'air through the sidewalls and/ or bottom portion tends to prevent dust from-settling thereon, and maintains the luminaire in a clean state, thus minimizing maintenance. The-combined lateral light transmission and air flow per.- mits diversified and highly, efficient-planning, and finally, the light distribution and air flow may be primarily vertical, or may be given a definite horizontal component.

Itis understood that minor variations from the form of the inventionv disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification anddrawing are to be, considered as merely illustrative ratherth'an limiting.

I claimzi w v V 1. A structure comprising; an elongated, supporting plate member, a lighting fixture portion having a light source secured to saidhsupporting plate, an air duct operatively connected to said supporting plate'and having a proximal end and I a combine integral luminaire and air flow structure,

including a light transmitting imperforate baflie engaging said supporting plate member betweensaid light source and the proximal end of said air duct, removably secured to said supporting plate member having portions enclosing said lighting fixture and 3 proximal end of said air duct. 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said enclosing portions include panels of generally eggcrate formation.

References Cited in thefile of this patent- UNlTED STATES PATENTS Kushn'er May 8, 1 962 

1. A STRUCTURE COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED SUPPORTING PLATE MEMBER, A LIGHTING FIXTURE PORTION HAVING A LIGHT SOURCE SECURED TO SAID SUPPORTING PLATE, AN AIR DUCT OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORTING PLATE AND HAVING A PROXIMAL END AND A COMBINE INTEGRAL LUMINAIRE AND AIR FLOW STRUCTURE, 